Joseph Rannazzisi is a registered pharmacist and licensed attorney. He retired from the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2015 after serving over 29 years in drug law enforcement. From June 2005 until retirement, he was the Deputy Assistant Administrator of the DEA Office of Diversion Control. In that capacity, Joe supervised DEA’s efforts to prevent, detect and investigate the diversion of pharmaceutical controlled substances and listed chemicals from legitimate distribution channels.
Joe was responsible for overseeing and coordinating major controlled substance diversion and clandestine laboratory investigations; the drafting and promulgating of federal regulations; testifying before Congress; establishing drug production quotas; and maintaining liaison with the pharmaceutical industry, international governments, state governments, federal agencies, and with state and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies. He provided regulatory oversight and supervised the inspection and investigation of all businesses that import, export, manufacture, distribute, dispense, or dispose of controlled substances and listed chemicals to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements related to drug and facility security, recordkeeping, and accountability.
In this capacity, he also evaluated potential violations and, when appropriate, issued Orders to Show Cause to initiate administrative proceedings to revoke or suspend registrations to handle controlled substances, and approved Immediate Suspension Orders.
Joseph Rannazzisi
Strategic Partner
Joseph Rannazzisi
Strategic Partner
Joseph Rannazzisi is a registered pharmacist and licensed attorney. He retired from the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2015 after serving over 29 years in drug law enforcement. From June 2005 until retirement, he was the Deputy Assistant Administrator of the DEA Office of Diversion Control. In that capacity, Joe supervised DEA’s efforts to prevent, detect and investigate the diversion of pharmaceutical controlled substances and listed chemicals from legitimate distribution channels.
Joe was responsible for overseeing and coordinating major controlled substance diversion and clandestine laboratory investigations; the drafting and promulgating of federal regulations; testifying before Congress; establishing drug production quotas; and maintaining liaison with the pharmaceutical industry, international governments, state governments, federal agencies, and with state and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies. He provided regulatory oversight and supervised the inspection and investigation of all businesses that import, export, manufacture, distribute, dispense, or dispose of controlled substances and listed chemicals to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements related to drug and facility security, recordkeeping, and accountability.
In this capacity, he also evaluated potential violations and, when appropriate, issued Orders to Show Cause to initiate administrative proceedings to revoke or suspend registrations to handle controlled substances, and approved Immediate Suspension Orders.
Joe was designated as the United States Competent Authority for controlled substances and listed chemicals. He supervised U.S. representatives attending meetings organized by the International Narcotics Control Board and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Joe is a nationally recognized speaker and instructor and has provided training concerning illicit drugs, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical control, corresponding responsibility, security, chemicals, synthetic drugs, and clandestine laboratories to hundreds of audiences representing law enforcement, attorneys, judges, professional organizations, pharmaceutical industry executives and employees, community groups, Congress, government officials, and international partners.